RMT ceremony to pay tribute to Tebay disaster victims

It will remember the tragic incident where a 16-tonne steel wagon spirally out of control at 40 mph on the West Coast Main Line during a night shift, crashing into track workers.

The deadly collision led to the tragic deaths of four RMT members and injured five others.

In response to the catastrophe, Mark Connolly, head of the rail maintenance company MAC Machinery Services, and crane operator Roy Kennett were tried in Newcastle Crown Court.

They were charged with manslaughter caused by gross negligence, with Mr Connolly additionally prosecuted for health and safety law violations.

Both received guilty verdicts with Mark Connolly sentenced to nine years imprisonment and Roy Kennett to two years.

The RMT union firmly believes that the privatisation and fragmentation of the railways contributed to this disaster and they have pledged to ensure higher safety standards on the network.

A quiet ceremony is planned for Thursday (February 15) at the memorial stone located south of Tebay village, where wreaths will be placed and a few words spoken at midday.

An informal gathering with speeches from the general secretary Mick Lynch will follow at the Tebay Sports Social & Railway Club around 1.30pm.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: "The Tebay disaster is a stark reminder of the calamity of privatisation and fragmentation of the railways.

"Our brothers who were lost in this avoidable disaster are never far from our thoughts and today we pay tribute to them and their families.

"The union will always be at the forefront of fighting for good safety standards in every workplace and we will vigorously oppose any employer who tries to undermine that."